Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 May 2012
102 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the conditions at Eyre Powell, direct provision centre in Newbridge, County Kildare; if he has met with residents regarding their concerns and his plans to make improvements and refurbishments. [22666/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers while their application for protection is being processed. The Eyre Powell asylum seeker accommodation centre in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, which has a capacity to accommodate 90 residents, is one of 38 centres throughout the State which are managed by private companies under contract to RIA. These contracts set out in detail the services to be provided to residents.
On 10 April, 2012, a detailed written complaint listing 12 areas of concern, signed by a number of residents, was sent to the manager of the Eyre Powell centre through the local Newbridge Asylum Seekers Support Group. The concerns revolved around food, hygiene and attitude of management towards residents. The complaint was simultaneously copied to, inter alia, the media, local TDs, various official bodies and other NGOs.
I am advised by the RIA that two visits to the centre by senior RIA officials took place on Thursday 19 April and Friday 27 April. During these visits, discussions took place with residents about the complaints raised. A meeting also took place between the residents and centre management on Saturday, 21 April, 2012. Both residents and the local support group have acknowledged the efforts already made by RIA and centre management to address the points of complaint.
Generally, it must be acknowledged that problems can and do arise in any accommodation system, noting that in the direct provision system there are over 5,200 persons residing in RIA centres throughout the State. It is therefore incumbent on all concerned to ensure that the various processes in place to head off such problems, or deal with them when they arise, are fully utilised. From the perspective of the residents themselves, the principal protection is the house rules and procedures for asylum seekers living in direct provision asylum accommodation centres. These rules set out the entitlements and obligations placed on centre management and residents and, in the event that these aren't being met, a complaints procedures to be invoked by either party. The thrust of the complaints procedure contained therein is that issues which arise are best resolved quickly, locally and informally without the need to proceed formally. In the main, this is how issues should be and are resolved.
Over and above the House Rules themselves, the interests of asylum seekers are protected through regular "clinics" in centres where residents can speak directly to RIA Headquarters staff without local centre management being present. Further, unannounced inspections take place in centres, by RIA staff and by a contracted independent company, to ensure that centres are adhering to their contractual obligations. Also, issues of concern are also brought to the attention of RIA by representatives of statutory or voluntary agencies working with asylum seekers. In the case of Eyre Powell, I am informed that the centre had been inspected three times in 2011 (twice by RIA and once by the independent inspection body) and there had been three "RIA clinics" held in 2011 as well. The centre has also been inspected once this year by the independent inspection body. Many of the issues raised in the written complaint of 10 April, 2012 had not featured in these inspections or clinics.
RIA is working through the list of complaints made by residents in this case, and will also take into account issues raised at the meeting between residents and management on 21 April. Further, the RIA examination will address how the interaction of the complaints, inspections and clinic systems worked in this instance. This is a work in progress involving residents, centre management and RIA and RIA has committed itself to responding in writing to the residents in relation to all the issues raised as soon as possible.
